Steam opens to a blank window, but may be acessed by opening big picture mode. Steam will only run cities skylines with extreme performance penalty.
Hello @St-Sendmore, from your inxi output, it looks like you're saying that your video driver is working with Wayland, but there is a problem somewhere in your graphics stack and Xwayland, and the system used llvmpipe as a fallthrough option to render on the CPU. This is something to report to your video driver vendor and see if they can make sense of it.
These are the lines to focus on:
vulkan: No DRI3 support detected - required for presentation
Note: you can probably enable DRI3 in your Xorg config
X connection to :0 broken (explicit kill or server shutdown).
I'd like to mention that I hit this issue as well after I think an update to mesa-vulkan drivers. Steam was working up until an update, and then afterwards the same issue as described above would occur.
This was observed on version 25.2.1~kisak2~n via the kisak PPA.
OS: Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS
Kernel: 6.14.0-29-generic
Downgrading to what the official Ubuntu repo has (25.0.7-0ubuntu0.24.04.1) and rebooting the system afterwards seems to resolve the issue. I wasn't able to easily downgrade to the 25.1.7 version of mesa that I had installed previously.
I have the same problem. I'm on Ubuntu 24.04.3 and Steam always worked. I hadn't launced it in a couple of weeks and now it opens to a blank (no rendering) window.
When I hit the super key on the keyboard it shows the steam logo as one of the windows but there's nothing there except the logo.
On System Monitor I can see Steam and Steamwebhelper running, but nothing showing.
There's a tray icon up top, when I click on that and choose Library, nothing happens.
When I choose Big Picture, it works and starts to render but is not performant and very choppy/laggy. I have a R7-5800x with a 6900XT, it shouldn't be this choppy.
If I exit Big Picture mode, it then opens the normal desktop steam window correctly.
I have family view controls as well. Not sure if that is a factor as it defaults opening to family view before I put a pin. In this case I couldn't put family view off pin until I was in Big Picture mode.
I'm using this...
VkPhysicalDeviceVulkan12Properties:
-----------------------------------
driverID = DRIVER_ID_MESA_RADV
driverName = radv
driverInfo = Mesa 25.2.1 - kisak-mesa PPA
conformanceVersion:
major = 1
minor = 4
subminor = 0
patch = 0
Hi all,
Maybe my issue is related to this issue. I have new Radeon RX 9060 XT with Ubuntu 24.04.3..
While default Mesa 25.0.7 is working after i have installed updated firmware, after using Kisak Mesa Fresh (25.2.2) i have issues opening Steam client under Wayland. App window is invisible and it works properly only if i switch Ubuntu to X11. Then is all good. Under Wayland Steam client falls back to Mesa llvmpipe rendering and cannot properly use my GPU. At least that is listed in Steam system information under GPU info.
Interresting thing is, using Kisak Mesa Turtle (25.1.9) works normally as expected so i wonder what has changed in 25.2.2. Only difference i have noticed in description in launchpad is that 25.2.2 was build with llvm 20 and 25.1.9 was build with llvm 19.
I have discovered this by accident when i was searching for RDNA4 firmware files for Ubuntu 24.04.3 and commented here:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-firmware/+bug/2119210
Btw. installing latest xwayland and waylad has resolved this issue for me. No more invisible Steam window and no more Mesa llvmpipe fallback, but i am not sure if that experiment is safe. Anyway, if you feel like testing it for yourself, i have used these PPA's:
https://launchpad.net/~savoury1/+archive/ubuntu/display?field.series_filter=noble
https://launchpad.net/~bvitnik/+archive/ubuntu/xwayland-noble-backports
It's hard to take corrective action here without understanding what's gone awry. Can someone seeing this video driver issue please copy the contents of Steam Runtime Diagnostics from Steam (Steam -> Help -> Steam Runtime Diagnostics) and put it in a gist, then include a link to the gist in this issue report. Also, please note if there's any other video driver related packages installed from another graphics related PPA, standalone installer, or perhaps ROCm.
The hints so far point towards something related to EGL and the OpenGL render path having a hard time. X based user sessions would lean on GLX instead of EGL to explain the difference there.
Some gists, hope they help..
25.1.9 under Wayland (this one is working fine) - https://gist.github.com/X6205/3578583f80a13b087abadb4dca496ffd
25.2.2 under Wayland (invisible Steam window, Mesa llvmpipe fallback) - https://gist.github.com/X6205/fd153dc7cce389a866f46ca6ba6defce
25.2.2 under X11 (somehow working (but showing LLVM 20.1.8 instead of ACO) - https://gist.github.com/X6205/8c034286e6ce141e199349bbe0a78228
Thanks, it's looking like this is a convergence of removed X11 DRI2 support in mesa 25.2.0 and Xwayland 23.2.6 predating https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xorg/xserver/-/commit/6f85ce4d4eeaa7070b9c2cf4536d35cd14d22090 to give the current generation of DRI3 support.
Please do a general system update cycle and retest. If Xwayland is already running in that background, that'll need restarted one way or another.
Now it looks OK, Steam window normally opens under Wayland
https://gist.github.com/X6205/5f01829ce1c50d4699b20f6f5af9a823
Btw. why Steam sometimes shows ACO and in this case LLVM 20.1.8, depending on driver or repository?
Does it impact something?
In this context, it's normal for radeonsi to use LLVM as the backend for OpenGL. ACO is more commonly used with RADV and Vulkan, but both radeonsi and RADV have the ability to use both backends to some extent, it's just what's been tested more thoroughly and is more reliable to be the default for that render path.
Closing per the last couple comments.
Nothing extracted yet.
Your system information
tar -zcvf ~/Desktop/steam-logs.tar.gz ~/.steam/steam/logs] I did this, and dont know what to do with them.Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:
Describe what you expected should happen and what did happen. Please link any large code pastes as a Github Gist
when i start steam, i expect to see the store page after the login process completes. Instead, it will log in, (sometimes will pull up my friends list with full functionality) and then open a blank steam client window. I may then right click the icon for steam (doesnt matter which) and start big picture mode, big picture may then be exited and the client appears. it does not "cycle" loading attempts as some other users have experienced.
Starting steam through terminal, then trying to boot up a game (beam ng will be example used) yields this output:
$ steam
steam.sh[24772]: Running Steam on ubuntu 24.04 64-bit
steam.sh[24772]: STEAM_RUNTIME is enabled automatically
setup.sh[24810]: Steam runtime environment up-to-date!
steam.sh[24772]: Steam client's requirements are satisfied
CProcessEnvironmentManager is ready, 6 preallocated environment variables.
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Startup - updater built Jun 28 2025 01:05:05
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Startup - Steam Client launched with: '/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/ubuntu12_32/steam' '-srt-logger-opened' '-nominidumps' '-nobreakpad'
Looks like steam didn't shutdown cleanly, scheduling immediate update check
CProcessEnvironmentManager is ready, 6 preallocated environment variables.
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Loading cached metrics from disk (/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/package/steam_client_metrics.bin)
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Using the following download hosts for Public, Realm steamglobal
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] 1. https://client-update.fastly.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 900, source = 'update_hosts_cached.vdf'
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] 2. https://client-update.akamai.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 400, source = 'update_hosts_cached.vdf'
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] 3. https://client-update.steamstatic.com, /, Realm 'steamglobal', weight was 1, source = 'baked in'
08/28 23:20:56 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Checking for update on startup
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Checking for available updates...
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Downloading manifest: https://client-update.fastly.steamstatic.com/steam_client_ubuntu12
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Manifest download: send request
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Process started with command-line: '/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/ubuntu12_32/steam' '-child-update-ui' '-child-update-ui-socket' '8' '-srt-logger-opened' '-nominidumps' '-nobreakpad'
08/28 23:20:56 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Using update UI: console
08/28 23:20:56 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steam)/version(0)/tid(24897)
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Create window
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Set percent complete: 0
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Set status message: Checking for available updates...
[ 0%] Checking for available updates...
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Set percent complete: -1
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Manifest download: waiting for download to finish
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Manifest download: finished
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Download skipped: /steam_client_ubuntu12 version 1751405894, installed version 1751405894, existing pending version 0
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Nothing to do
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Verifying installation...
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Verifying all executable checksums
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Set percent complete: -1
[2025-08-28 23:20:56] Set status message: Verifying installation...
[----] Verifying installation...
[2025-08-28 23:20:58] Show window
[2025-08-28 23:20:58] Verification complete
UpdateUI: skip show logo
[2025-08-28 23:20:58] Destroy window
Steam logging initialized: directory: /home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/logs
[2025-08-28 23:20:58] ProcessNextMessage: socket disconnected
[2025-08-28 23:20:58] No more messages are expected - exiting
XRRGetOutputInfo Workaround: initialized with override: 0 real: 0xe9841860
XRRGetCrtcInfo Workaround: initialized with override: 0 real: 0xe983ffc0
/usr/share/themes/Breeze/gtk-2.0/widgets/entry:70: error: unexpected identifier 'direction', expected character '}'
/usr/share/themes/Breeze/gtk-2.0/widgets/styles:36: error: invalid string constant "combobox_entry", expected valid string constant
08/28 23:20:59 minidumps folder is set to /tmp/dumps
08/28 23:20:59 Init: Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(steamsysinfo)/version(1751405894)/tid(24938)
Running query: 1 - GpuTopology
Response: gpu_topology {
gpus {
id: 1
name: "AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE (RADV NAVI31)"
vram_size_bytes: 17179869184
driver_id: k_EGpuDriverId_MesaRadv
driver_version_major: 25
driver_version_minor: 2
driver_version_patch: 1
}
gpus {
id: 2
name: "llvmpipe (LLVM 20.1.8, 256 bits)"
vram_size_bytes: 3221225472
driver_id: k_EGpuDriverId_MesaLLVMPipe
driver_version_major: 25
driver_version_minor: 2
driver_version_patch: 1
}
default_gpu_id: 1
}
Exit code: 0
Saving response to: /tmp/steamjcJJbP - 112 bytes
steamwebhelper.sh[24977]: Starting steamwebhelper under bootstrap steamrt steam runtime via: /home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/steamrt64/steam-runtime-steamrt/_v2-entry-point
steamwebhelper.sh[24977]: Starting steamwebhelper with steamrt steam runtime at /home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/steamrt64/steam-runtime-steamrt/_v2-entry-point
Steam Runtime Launch Service: starting steam-runtime-launcher-service
Steam Runtime Launch Service: steam-runtime-launcher-service is running pid 25134
bus_name=com.steampowered.PressureVessel.LaunchAlongsideSteam
exec ./steamwebhelper -nocrashdialog -lang=en_US -cachedir=/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/config/htmlcache -steampid=24895 -buildid=1751405894 -steamid=0 -logdir=/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/logs -uimode=7 -startcount=0 -steamuniverse=Public -realm=Global -clientui=/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/clientui -steampath=/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/ubuntu12_32/steam -launcher=0 --valve-initial-threadpool-size=4 --valve-enable-site-isolation --enable-smooth-scrolling --password-store=basic --log-file=/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/logs/cef_log.txt --disable-quick-menu --disable-component-update --enable-features=PlatformHEVCDecoderSupport --disable-features=SpareRendererForSitePerProcess,DcheckIsFatal,BlockPromptsIfIgnoredOften,ValveFFmpegAllowLowDelayHEVC
Desktop state changed: desktop: { pos: 0, 0 size: 1920,1080 } primary: { pos: 0, 0 size: 1920,1080 }
Caching cursor image for , size 24x24, serial 509, cache size = 0
reaping pid: 24896 -- sh
So, at this point steam is running the blank window, i will now enter Big Picture Mode and then exit it to start the game and post that output below:
[2025-08-28 23:22:59] Background update loop checking for update. . .
[2025-08-28 23:22:59] Checking for available updates...
[2025-08-28 23:22:59] Downloading manifest: https://client-update.fastly.steamstatic.com/steam_client_ubuntu12
[2025-08-28 23:22:59] Manifest download: send request
[2025-08-28 23:23:00] Manifest download: waiting for download to finish
[2025-08-28 23:23:00] Manifest download: finished
[2025-08-28 23:23:00] Download skipped by HTTP 304 Not Modified
[2025-08-28 23:23:00] Nothing to do
fsync: up and running.
chdir "/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/steamapps/common/BeamNG.drive"
ERROR: ld.so: object '/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/ubuntu12_32/gameoverlayrenderer.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded (wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS32): ignored.
ERROR: ld.so: object '/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/ubuntu12_32/gameoverlayrenderer.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded (wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS32): ignored.
ERROR: ld.so: object '/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/ubuntu12_64/gameoverlayrenderer.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded (wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64): ignored.
ERROR: ld.so: object '/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/ubuntu12_32/gameoverlayrenderer.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded (wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS32): ignored.
Game Recording - would start recording game 284160, but recording for this game is disabled
Adding process 26075 for gameID 284160
ERROR: ld.so: object '/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/ubuntu12_32/gameoverlayrenderer.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded (wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS32): ignored.
Adding process 26076 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26077 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26078 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26206 for gameID 284160
fsync: up and running.
Adding process 26207 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26208 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26209 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26212 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26214 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26217 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26227 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26232 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26239 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26268 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26287 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26327 for gameID 284160
Adding process 26330 for gameID 284160
Fossilize INFO: Overriding serialization path: "/home/richard-redlak/.steam/debian-installation/steamapps/shadercache/284160/fozpipelinesv6/steamapprun_pipeline_cache".
vulkan: No DRI3 support detected - required for presentation
Note: you can probably enable DRI3 in your Xorg config
X connection to :0 broken (explicit kill or server shutdown).
Adding process 26433 for gameID 284160
I asked steam support and they sent me a link to a page insinuating i do not have drivers or that they are out of date, i followed the instructions to update drivers and the machine says no updates were done.
graphics driver info from terminal inxi -Ga command:
Device-1: AMD Navi 31 [Radeon RX 7900 XT/7900 XTX/7900M] vendor: Sapphire
driver: amdgpu v: kernel arch: RDNA-3 code: Navi-3x process: TSMC n5 (5nm)
built: 2022+ pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: HDMI-A-2
empty: DP-1, DP-2, HDMI-A-1, Writeback-1 bus-ID: 2d:00.0
chip-ID: 1002:744c class-ID: 0300
Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.11 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.6
compositor: gnome-shell v: 46.0 driver: X: loaded: amdgpu
unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,radeon,vesa dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu
display-ID: 0
Monitor-1: HDMI-2 res: 1920x1080 size: N/A modes: N/A
API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: amd radeonsi platforms: device: 0 drv: radeonsi
device: 1 drv: swrast gbm: drv: kms_swrast surfaceless: drv: radeonsi
wayland: drv: radeonsi x11: drv: swrast
API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: mesa v: PPA glx-v: 1.4
direct-render: yes renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 20.1.8 256 bits)
device-ID: ffffffff:ffffffff memory: 61.25 GiB unified: yes
display-ID: :0.0
API: Vulkan v: 1.3.275 layers: 7 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu name: AMD
Radeon RX 7900 GRE (RADV NAVI31) driver: N/A device-ID: 1002:744c
surfaces: wayland device: 1 type: cpu name: llvmpipe (LLVM 20.1.8 256
bits) driver: N/A device-ID: 10005:0000 surfaces: xcb,xlib,wayland
Some additional info: I may not enter big picture mode right away, if the blank screen is not already up asking for BPM does nothing, Cities Skylines will run through steam although with an EXTREME performance loss. The only thing i did before i had issues was install a game called Obama Maze. Ive also uninstalled the snap steam package and installed the deb package to no avail. ill probably re-install Ubuntu at this point.
Steps for reproducing this issue:
and/or